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Tuesday, 9 February 2010

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Swine flu vaccination programme

If you are in a high-risk group you should by now have been offered the swine flu vaccine. You would have been contacted by your GP if you are in a high-risk category. Vaccinations are now being offered to children aged six months to five years.

Swine flu vaccine prioritisation

The following groups were prioritised for the swine flu vaccine in this order:

people aged between six months and under 65 years in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups
pregnant women
people who live with someone whose immune system is compromised (for example, people with cancer or HIV/AIDS)
people aged 65 and over in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups

Your GP will have contacted you if you fall into one of the at-risk categories.

The GlaxoSmithKline vaccine (Pandemrix) will be offered to the vast majority of these people. It has been licensed and approved by the European regulators. Most people will need only one dose of this vaccine for protection. Other people may be offered the Baxter-manufactured vaccine if this is more appropriate.

Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said: "This is the first pandemic for which we have had vaccine to protect people. I urge everyone in the priority groups to have the vaccine – it will help prevent people in clinical risk groups from getting swine flu and the complications that may arise from it."

Vaccination for the under-fives

Children aged between six months and five years old are now being offered the swine flu vaccine.

Parents of children this age should wait to be contacted by their local GP.

Extending the vaccination programme to young children is supported by the panel of experts that provide advice on vaccination issues - the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

This is because children under five years of age are more likely than other groups to be hospitalised if they become ill with swine flu.

Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson said: "Vaccination remains a personal choice, but I urge everyone who is offered the vaccine to accept it and protect themselves.

"While the risks of serious complications from flu may be small, the impact on those affected can be devastating."

For more information on the swine flu vaccination programme for young children, follow the link below.